FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested that football could one day be played on other planets when he made his opening address to delegates at the start of its 64th Congress on Wednesday.

Making his opening remarks to delegates from all of FIFA's 209 member nations, before his presidential address later in the day, he told them of the impact football can have in the world, before looking into the future.

Star-gazer: FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Photo: Reuters

"We are still in our reform process but we are at the end," he said.

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"Our basic values of football of discipline, respect and fair play could be brought in everywhere in the world then we would have realised our objective but our objective never finishes.

"From north to west to east and south ... and we shall wonder if one day our game is played on other planets and then one day we won't have the World Cup, we will have interplanetary contests."

Blatter's light-hearted remarks came at the start of what is likely to be a hugely important Congress with FIFA embroiled in a number of crises one day before the start of the World Cup which has itself been dogged by controversy.

"These are important times for FIFA," Blatter said.

"The world is changing and the game must change with it. It is our duty to keep football going forward but also to keep our governance and control bodies installed.

"Our duty is not only to develop the game, it is also to ensure integrity of the game and protect the game, the game of the people. We shall be proud to see the impact of the game on our world.

"Football is not just a game, it is a multi-billion dollar business. I don't know if that is good or not. It creates controversial situations and then some difficulties. In this changing world little is beyond the reach of politics and economics."

Reuters

34 comments

I do believe that this old twit, Blatter, is already on the other planet ......he seems to have lost the grip on reality....possible senile?

Commenter

Gusferg

Location

Date and time

June 12, 2014, 12:05AM

He still maintains his skill to do a deal, though.

Commenter

nailer

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 12, 2014, 7:18AM

What planet is he on? Maybe we could play it there!

Commenter

Punter

Location

Geelong

Date and time

June 12, 2014, 12:12AM

sepp blatter is off his planet.

if fifa doesnot reform properly and becomes more transperent then slowly but surely people will lose interest.

why follow a sport where skulduggery goes on?

Commenter

slugged

Location

perth w.a.

Date and time

June 12, 2014, 12:19AM

"Football is not just a game, it is a multi-billion dollar business. I don't know if that is good or not. It creates controversial situations and then some difficulties. In this changing world little is beyond the reach of politics and economics."

Is this guy for real!!?? Talk about the master of self delusion. Maybe UEFA and other organizations start thinking about boycotting FIFA and set up an alternate governing body. Time for FIFA to be overhauled.

Commenter

Machiavelli

Date and time

June 12, 2014, 12:56AM

Honestly, this guy has clearly lost the plot completely with any semblance of management or control of Earth's FIFA franchises and their alleged rampant corruption, let alone talking about inviting those other carbon or silicon-based lifeforms from offworld, to come and kick a stupid, modified pigs' bladder across a green paddock. And here he is seeking another 4 year term? Tactical nuclear strike from offworld onto FIFA headquarters might be appropriate! Nutter!

Commenter

Alien Border Control

Location

The BrizVegas Quadrant

Date and time

June 12, 2014, 1:07AM

This man and his organization are disgraceful He acts like an African dictator and neither he nor his executive can be held to account...frightening globalization where money is the currency and sport and ethics take a backseat. FAns should be unibersally critical of this man ,his corruption as alleged and his frightening hold on power in an organization with huge world wide pretensions.

Commenter

Disgusted

Location

Newcastle

Date and time

June 12, 2014, 2:43AM

I wonder if he considered the impact gravity would have on the game while on other planets ...